W.B. Mfg and Co. (Weidlich Brothers) jewelry casket, Art Noveau, Cast metal and plated with gold Jewelry Casket, circa newest 1900-1910

Beautifully made WB Mfg and Company Jewelry casket is from the early 1900's. This Art Noveau style jewelry casket is perfect example of early 20th century design and elegance. Jewelry boxes have long been treasured, for they have held precious items -sometimes valuable in themselves, sometimes valuable for their memories newest. Throughout history, jewelry boxes had been constructed and designed by craftsmen, one box at a time, each a unique piece reflecting the style of the time and locale.

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, all this changed. And as we know, the concept of mass production was avidly adopted in the United States during the late 19th early 20th centuries. For the first time, metal objects like jewelry boxes, for example, could be cast in quantity and, through mail order catalogs (Sears and Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, Marshall Field), American ladies of the early 1900's could aspire to the “high style” of the world's great cities like London and Paris.

Jewel boxes, also called 'caskets', gained great favor -from the tiniest ring box to the very large handkerchief and glove boxes. They were made of cast metal, first plated with copper, then with silver or gold. They were lined with fine silks from Japan and China, printed faille and satin/sateen, and were often trimmed with a fine twisted silk cording.

This particular jewelry casket is made from the W.B. (Weidlich Brothers) Mfg and Co. patent from the early 1900's. It is made of cast metal and plated with gold and is in excellent condition. There are no scratches, chips, or wear on the box. The jewelry casket opens with hinges as can be seen in pictures 3 & 5. The box is lined with red felt that was perhaps added at a later date. I do not believe this was the original lining of the jewelry casket, but I can not be certain. The casket has gorgeous elaborate feet that it rests upon making it a sturdy piece of jewelry storage. The box measures 5" long, 3.25" wide and 2" deep into the box. The jewelry casket stands 4.75" tall from the feet to the top of the box. It is signed W.B. Mfg and Co. at the bottom of the box as can be seen in picture 4. This piece makes a perfect gift for the holidays, birthdays, a wedding gift, a housewarming gift, an addition for a collector of jewelry boxes and antiques, or a beautiful addition to your dresser or boudoir.

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